MOONDOG POLE by Alan Nakagawa

On October 5, 2013, the 10th and final Soundwalk took place. I wanted to take this opportunity to create an interactive sound art piece that was also educational. I had in the previous years, created interactive/multi-media works that required me to be present. Since it was the last Soundwalk, i also wanted to create a work that stood alone and didn't necessarily need me there, this way I could see the whole sound festival for a change. I decided to pay homage to Moondog, the seminal and eccentric composer, poet and instrument inventor who, although blind and homeless, influenced a lot of seminal new music and experimental composers in NY. MOONDOG POLE consisted of a tube, bass harp (inspired by Moondogs Ooo instrument), drum shell, and sound loop of me reciting Moondogs poems. It was a way to let everyone jam with Moondog, in a sense. The entire instrument, tube and even light pole was amplified so that you could play the strings and more and get a sound.